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Definition of neoadjuvant

neoadjuvant

/ˌniːoʊˈædʒəvənt/
ne · o · ad · ju · vant
Adverb:neoadjuvantly
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neoadjuvant Lexical Profile

neoadjuvant Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Administered as a preliminary treatment, typically before a primary surgical procedure, to shrink a tumor, reduce its stage, or improve the efficacy of the main treatment.

Example

"The patient was scheduled for a course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the size of the mass prior to surgery."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Often contrasted with 'adjuvant' therapies; neoadjuvant treatments are administered before the main treatment (such as surgery) to shrink a tumor, whereas adjuvant treatments are given afterward to prevent recurrence.

• Rhymes for neoadjuvant

• Nearby Words

nene
nene river
neo-soul
neoadjuvant
neoclassical
neoclassicism
neocon

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the medical oncology field in the late 20th century, from the prefix 'neo-' (new) and 'adjuvant' (from Latin 'adjuvare', meaning 'to help').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Neoadjuvant. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/neoadjuvant
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